William Buckner William ?Bill? Buckner of Jasper passed away Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009. Born Dec. 28, 1934 in Hazard, Ky., Bill came to work in Atlanta as an anchorman for Channel 11 WAll TV in the early 1960?s. He went on to serve as Executive Director of the Georgia Public Service Commission, with Cobb County Board of Commissioners, Assistant City Manager of Marietta, City Manager of Canton and ultimately City Manager of Marietta where he served from 1993 until his retirement in 1999. Bill enjoyed fishing with friends, gardening and wood carving. Bill is survived by his wife, Shelia L. Buckner; sons, Sean and Jeff Buckner; daughter, Lee Ann Weehunt; aunt, Virginia Beuris; and step-son, Michael Poole. Bill was preceded in death by his son, Greg Buckner. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Georgia Mountains Hospice, Inc., P.O. Box 580, Jasper, Ga. 30143 or The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Ok. 73123-1718.

John Bryant Mr. John Herbert Bryant, age 36 of Jasper, Ga., died Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009 at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Jasper following a sudden illness. Born March 18, 1972 in Cobb County, Ga., Mr. Bryant worked as an equipment operator with Cohutta Contracting. He was preceded in death by his father, Herbert G. Bryant. Survivors include his wife, Ann Marie Bryant, Jasper; children, Karen, Joshua and Joseph Gibson, all of Jasper; grandchild, Sabrina Shipman; mother and step-father, Cindy and David Thacker, Jasper; brothers, Clinton and Jarrod Thacker, both of Jasper; and grandmother, Mrs. Genita Dover Taylor, Jasper. Several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. The funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 from Roper Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Terry Dean officiating. Interment followed in Jerusalem Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were: Clint and Jarrod Thacker, Joshua and Joseph Gibson, Joey VanSant, Jody Poole, Tony and Andy Weaver and Jon Neighbors. Honorary pallbearers were: Steven Hamrick, Mitchell Bozeman, Shane Hollifield, Jacob VanSant, J.B. Callahan, Brian Brown, Allen Padgett and Doug Anderson. www.roperfuneralhome.com

Oscar Wilbur, Jr., MD Mr. Oscar M.Wilbur, Jr.,MD, known to family and friends as ?Jim,? died at his home Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009 following a brief illness. He was born in Bangor, Me. on April 15, 1921. He grew up in Orono and Cape Elizabeth, Me. Jim graduated from the University of Maine in 1943 and from Boston University School of Medicine in 1946. He interned in Rochester, N.Y. where he met Louise Wells from South Carolina. They were married in 1946 and celebrated their 62nd anniversary last November. After serving two years in the Army Medical Corps, he went to Georgetown for a year?s residency in Internal Medicine and then to John Hopkins for a five-year residency in Pathology. He was certified by the American Board of Pathology in both Anatomic Pathology and in Clinical Pathology. Jim loved teaching and spent much of his career on the teaching staff at medical schools. He also served as a surgical pathologist and as director of clinical laboratories in several hospitals. His hobbies included growing orchids and playing the piano, oboe, clarinet and saxophone. He was an instrument-rated single-multi-engine pilot. Jim became an Acolyte in the Episcopal Church at age 11 and continued as a Lay Reader, Lay Eucharistic Minister and finally as Verger, a position he held at Holy Family for 10 years. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Louise Wilbur, Bent Tree; daughters and sons-in-law, Mary and John DeGostin, Terryville, Ct., and Ann and Richard Hathaway, Athens, Ga.; granddaughters, Julia Niego, New York City, N.Y., and Amy Perujo, Seville, Spain; grandson, William Reynolds, Atlanta, Ga.; and brother and sister-in-law, John and Susan Wilbur, Kennebunk, Me. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, March 6 from the Episcopal Church of the Holy Family with Father Ted Hackett officiating. Interment for his cremains will follow in the Holy Family Memorial Gardens. Roper Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. www.roperfuneralhome.com

Elene Rich Mrs. Elene Rich, age 74 of Jasper, passed away Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009 at St. Mary?s Hospice House in Bogart, Ga. Survivors include husband, Johnny Rich, Jasper; son and daughter-in-law, Jamie and Michelle Rich, Toccoa, Ga.; brother, Carl Bryant, Swainsboro, Ga.; sister, Velma Grimes, Cartersville, Ga; and grandchildren, Adam, Ian and Evan Rich. The funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 from the Chapel of Cagle Funeral Home with the Revs. Rembert Hancock and Ronnie Ray officiating. Interment followed in Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery. The following served as pallbearers: Adam, Ian and Evan Rich, Scott Reed, Carlan Miller and Bill Barrett. www.caglefuneralhome.com

John Driscoll Mr. John (Jack) Driscoll, age 77 of Big Canoe, Ga., passed Monday, Feb. 23, 2009 at Veranda ALF Home in Roswell, Ga. as the result of Alzheimer?s. Survivors include his wife, Therese Driscoll, Big Canoe; son and daughter-in-law, Patrick and Kimberly Driscoll, Cumming, Ga.; daughter and son-in-law, Katherine and Keith Keeney, Alpharetta; brother, Philip Driscoll, Rockford, Il.; sister, Maureen Anderson, Rockford, Il.; and four grandchildren, Alana and Tara Driscoll and Erin and Emma Kenney. Mr. Driscoll was preceded in death by a daughter, Colleen Ann Driscoll. A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 2 from Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Jasper with Father Frank Richardson officiating. The family requests in lieu of flowers, make donations to St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o Our Lady of the Mountains, 1908 Waleska Hwy., Hwy. 108, Jasper, Ga. 30143 or Georgia Chapter Alzheimer?s Association, 855 Abutment Rd., Ste. 6, Dalton, Ga. 30721. Cagle Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. www.caglefuneralhome.com

Harold Dunn Mr. Harold Dunn,age 84 of Jasper, formerly of Bessemer, Al., passed away Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009 at Northside Hospital-Cherokee in Canton. Mr. Dunn was a veteran of World War II. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Ricky and Jacqie Dunn, Jasper; sister, Octavia Franklin, Bessemer, Al.; and grandchild, Macey Dunn, Wetumpka, Al. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 7 from Raimund Heights Baptist Church in Bessemer. The family requests donations be made to Raimund Heights Baptist Church, 233 Elrie Blvd., Bessemer, Al. 35020. Cagle Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. www.caglefuneralhome.com

Earnie Breeding Earnie Rowe Breeding passed away Feb. 27, 2009. He was 69 years old. Survivors include his mother, Marie Breeding; his wife, Caroline Kay Jones Breeding; and daughters, Jennifer McLean Ross and Leah Breeding Jelly. He also has four grandchildren. His funeral was held Wednesday, March 4 at noon from Canton First United Methodist Church in Canton. In lieu of flowers, Earnie requested donations be made to the Latvian Mission Building Fund at the church, 930 Lower Scott Mill Rd., Canton, Ga. 30115. He was buried in the National Cemetery with full military and fire honors. Sosebee Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Grady Holcomb Mr. Grady P. Holcomb, age 86 of Ball Ground, Ga., died Sunday, March 1, 2009 at Heartland Hospice in Cartersville, Ga. following a period of declining health. Born Oct. 25, 1922 in Cherokee County, he was the son of the late Jim and Aslee Godfrey Holcomb. He was a US Army veteran having served during World War II and had worked as an engineer with the Georgia Department of Transportation. Mr. Holcomb was a member of the Ball Ground Masonic Lodge #261 F&AM. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Bessie Mae Holcomb, Ball Ground; sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Shirley Holcomb, Perry and Sharon Holcomb and Brenda Holcomb, all of Ball Ground; grandchildren, Christy and Keith Allen, Brett and Ashley Holcomb and Shannon Holcomb; and great-grandchildren,l Lauren Allen and Tanner and Bryson Holcomb. Other relatives also survive. The funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 from Roper Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Greg Hamilton and James Rich officiating. Interment followed in Ball Ground Baptist Church Cemetery with Masonic graveside rites. www.roperfuneralhome.com